Celebrating pride month

Estelle Mattis

Psychology BSc(Hons) - First Year

Hi, I’m Estelle. Right now, I’m a first year student studying Psychology at the University of Huddersfield. My hobbies include anything creative, including art, writing, reading and even gaming!

Presently, pride month is a celebration of acceptance, love and freedom. Most importantly, the freedom to genuinely express ourselves and our queerness - but it began as a way to commemorate the Stonewall riots and those who died.

These riots are widely considered to be the main event that pushed forward the LGBT rights movement and it's important that we take a moment to remember the people who fought for our ability to celebrate as we do, to marry and adopt children.

Pride means many different things to many different people, but as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I think it’s so imperative that we continue to fight for representation to drive forward change in other countries that are yet to offer the same rights and acceptance for their LGBT population and to show those who haven't come out yet, those questioning or doubting their lifestyle, that they're not alone.

Community/Support

It’s important to find support and pride month is an excellent place to meet people just like you, who have come together to remember and celebrate how we got to where we are today. In fact, at the University of Huddersfield, we greatly value acceptance and equality and the establishment prides itself on making its LGBTQ+ students feel welcome.

At the university, we have our very own LGBTQ+ society, where each and every queer student is invited to engage in regular social events, raise awareness around issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, volunteer and conduct fundraisers throughout the year. You can find out more about these events from the society’s website.

Bullying and harassment are never okay, and the university has put multiple support systems in place to prevent that behaviour from occurring to promote a productive and inclusive environment.

One service in particular is the Share and Support Service; an online tool which you can use to report anti-social incidents either anonymously or non-anonymously. This provides staff with the opportunity to correct the disruptive behaviour and — if you choose to include your personal details — offer support from the helpful Wellbeing Team.

Things to do

To celebrate Pride 2022, the wider community of Kirklees are hosting their very own Pride event on the 9th of July, so expect to have your hands full with many events taking place from noon to evening!

If you’re looking for a more discreet way to show your support, why not visit one of the many businesses in Huddersfield that actively support the LGBTQ+ community? For example, The Brunswick Centre is an establishment dedicated to providing support for LGBTQ+ youth across Huddersfield, providing online and familial support and even expanding their reach into schools and other local services.

Another example is The Hive, an LGBTQ+ community café that also hosts regular youth groups to provide guidance for the younger generation. You’re truly missing out if you haven’t had a taste of their affectionately named ‘Hive Buddha Bowls’.

I hope this blog has provided you with ideas on how to celebrate Pride this year, but feel free to express your joy in any way that feels comfortable to you!

Find out more about the university and our courses by chatting to our students via Unibuddy here.

Meet our reps

These are the students who are sharing what life is really like at the University of Huddersfield.